Bennett pushed open the door, allowing Lisa to enter first before following her inside. She dropped the duffel bag, and after securing the lock, both women exhaled two very long breaths in unison.

“I’m not sure what I want first, another drink or a shower,” Bennett said.

“I vote for both.”

“I like the way you think.” Bennett went into the kitchen and grabbed some glasses. “Do you want wine or something stronger?”

“Wine works.” Out of the corner of her eyes, Lisa saw Xi slinking up the hallway, but as she took a step toward him, he let out a hiss to end all hisses. Arching his back, he hissed again and then darted down the hall. “Wow, what was all that about? I thought he liked me.”

“He does,” Bennett said, tossing the corkscrew back into a drawer. “He probably just doesn’t appreciate our appearance at the moment.” Bennett handed Lisa the wine and glasses. “If you can get these, I’m going to grab a rubbish bag for our clothes. I’m assuming you don’t mind conserving water?”

Lisa beamed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

***

Bennett and Lisa took a few healthy gulps of wine as the water came up to temperature. They took their time stripping out of their ruined clothing, and as they dropped their garments into the bag, their scars were revealed.

Although already healing, red welts, haphazard in direction, marred their legs and arms, and a swollen blemish on Lisa’s bicep showed she’d been stabbed at least once. Bennett hadn’t fared much better, puckers and craters on her skin confirming that a sword or dagger had found her as well, and the sight was sobering for both. Without a word, Lisa and Bennett stepped into the shower, and standing under the twin showerheads, they lowered their chins to their chests and allowed the water to pour over them.

Lisa was the first to raise her head, and when Bennett heard her grumbling as she fought to get the tie from her hair, Bennett snapped the elastic band, kissed Lisa on the neck, and handed her the shampoo. They scrubbed and rinsed and scrubbed and rinsed until their hair squeaked, and then pouring ample amounts of body wash onto washcloths, it wasn’t long before the shower smelled of bergamot, spearmint, and musk.

Bennett rinsed the velvety lather from her skin for a second time, and amidst the steam behind the glass walls, after nearly forty-eight hours, Bennett could finally breathe easily. The aches and pains of the battle had left her now, and with Max’s help, she was healing quickly. Unavoidable as breathing, Bennett had stolen several glances of the naked woman to her left, and now that all the blood had been washed away, when Bennett glanced again…it wasn’t quite a glance.